lawless

adjective

law·​less ˈlȯ-ləs How to pronounce lawless (audio)
1
: not regulated by or based on law
2
a
: not restrained or controlled by law : unruly
b
lawlessly adverb
lawlessness noun

Examples of lawless in a Sentence

the lawless society of the frontier the lawless rioters were destroying everything in sight
Recent Examples on the Web Advertisement Trump painted California as a lawless, dystopian state, and at times correctly touched on the economic struggles faced by many residents. Faith E. Pinho, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2024 Under the guise of protecting freedom of expression, complete lawless zones have flourished. Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 9 Oct. 2024 What happens now? July 7, 2024 In lawless Gaza, cigarette smuggling fuels attacks on aid trucks July 8, 2024 Subscribe to comment and get the full experience. Kareem Fahim, Washington Post, 28 July 2024 If only there were a place for all this—a forum big and lawless enough to host several generations’ worth of eclectic culinary lore. Ruby Tandoh, The New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for lawless 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lawless.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of lawless was in the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near lawless

Cite this Entry

“Lawless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lawless. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

lawless

adjective
law·​less ˈlȯ-ləs How to pronounce lawless (audio)
1
: not based on or regulated by law
the lawless society of the frontier
2
: not controlled by law : unruly, disorderly
lawless mob
lawlessly adverb
lawlessness noun

Legal Definition

lawless

adjective
law·​less
1
: not restrained or controlled by law
2
: illegal
a lawless act
lawlessly adverb
lawlessness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on lawless

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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